“We have to become warriors”: the fight to save the world’s only women’s sculpture park
The Artist’s Garden, a public sculpture park on the roof terrace of Temple underground station in London, faces closure after its licence is due to end on 1 October. Founded by curator Claire Mander and dedicated exclusively to women artists, the garden was created to address the underrepresentation of women in London’s public art; its possible loss has raised concerns that a distinctive cultural space could be replaced by commercial use.
The garden opened in October 2021 after more than £500,000 of Westminster council funding and has since commissioned 18 major works, worked with 24 artists and attracted around 100,000 visitors annually. Places for London says the terrace may need essential repair and safety assessments, while exploring alternative nearby sites; Mander disputes that explanation, arguing the works relate mainly to commercial property below and fearing redevelopment for private events.
- London’s women-only sculpture garden may close in October.
- Its founders fear commercial redevelopment of the Temple terrace.
- The site has welcomed 100,000 visitors yearly since 2021.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that the Artist’s Garden is a rare corrective to the historical exclusion of women from public sculpture and should be protected as a cultural institution in its own right. They contend that replacing its distinct purpose with a more commercially oriented events space would dilute a hard-won public commitment to representation, education and access to women artists’ work. In this view, preserving the park honours both the artworks and the wider principle that public space should reflect a fuller range of cultural voices.
The case against
Those favouring a change in use could argue that an outdoor venue must remain financially sustainable and adaptable if it is to survive, particularly in a costly city such as London. Hosting events or broadening the site’s function may generate income, attract new audiences and support maintenance without necessarily preventing artistic programming. They may also hold that public cultural spaces should serve varied community and economic needs rather than being permanently tied to one curatorial mission.
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